Press for paid sick days bill begins outside a Dunkin Donuts

Supporters of efforts to force employers to pay workers when they are sick brought their fight in front of the State House Thursday afternoon, protesting outside a Dunkin Donuts on Beacon Street. Michael Habib, who has worked part-time at a Dunkin Donuts in Jamaica Plain for five years, said it is R...

By Colleen Quinn

The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA

By Colleen Quinn

Posted Jan. 24, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jan 24, 2013 at 3:29 AM

By Colleen Quinn

Posted Jan. 24, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jan 24, 2013 at 3:29 AM

Boston

» Social News

Supporters of efforts to force employers to pay workers when they are sick brought their fight in front of the State House Thursday afternoon, protesting outside a Dunkin Donuts on Beacon Street.

Michael Habib, who has worked part-time at a Dunkin Donuts in Jamaica Plain for five years, said it is “unfair” he does not have paid sick time. He is afraid to call in sick for fear he will aggravate his boss.

“Usually there are harsh consequences. He will threaten to fire you. He will give you a warning. But you’re sick. I mean you shouldn’t have to be waking up the morning of having a 102 degree fever and being worried to call your boss and tell him, ‘Hey, my temperature’s really high. I’m coughing. I’m sneezing. I’m throwing up,’” Habib said. “You should be entitled to that. I think that should be a basic right.”

“If you’re lucky to even get a sick day you don’t get paid for it,” Habib added.

A spokesman for Dunkin Donuts did not return a call. The company features many independently owned franchises.

Lawmakers are again pressing the issue, filing legislation requiring paid sick time. Many business owners fought attempts in the past, arguing it would hurt small employers and hamper the ability of others to grow during precarious economic times. Similar legislation died in the Legislature last July after the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing sent it to study.

About one million Massachusetts workers have no paid sick time, according to backers of the bill.

Rep. Kay Khan, a Newton Democrat who has backed legislation for the last three sessions, said the newest proposal is “slightly different” with three changes.

“We listened to the business community, and there were some concerns particularly with very small companies. We did a lot of work trying to make some adjustments to the bill,” Khan said. “We have sort of a tiered approach now so that employees in companies with fewer than six employees can earn up to 40 hours of unpaid job-protected sick time.”

Businesses with six to 10 employees can earn up to 40 hours of paid sick time, and employers with 11 or more employees would have to provide up to 56 hours. Employees must work 30 hours for every one hour of paid time, under the legislation.

Sen. Daniel Wolf (D-Harwich), said the latest version of the bill takes into account many of the concerns, particularly of businesses with small operations and seasonal workers. Wolf, founder of Cape Air, said the benefits of offering paid sick time are “huge,” including preventing the spread of diseases, and enabling parents to care for sick children rather than send them off to school.

“As a business person myself we have always offered the benefit,” Wolf said. “I do not think it is an unreasonable or heavy burden for people.”

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Wolf said he expects opposition again, but believes there is enough support for it to pass. “I think we have been very sensitive and modified the bill,” he said. “My hope is there has been a lot of information and discussion that will allay fears from the last session.”